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Southwest Airlines, historically known for its strict control over the distribution of its schedules and fares, has recently expanded its presence on online travel platforms. The airline, which previously only allowed fare information on its own website, now permits Google Flights and Kayak to display its schedules and prices.
American Airlines has made significant changes to its flight attendant staffing levels, a decision that has sparked concerns and potential regulatory intervention. The airline's flight attendants are set to receive boarding pay and higher 401(k) contributions, but these benefits will not take effect immediately. However, the staffing levels have not been restored to pre-pandemic numbers.
News and notes from around the internet:
At the end of May, American Airlines announced the departure of Chief Commercial Officer Vasu Raja and downgraded earnings projections due to a decline in business and managed travel revenue. This drop occurred amidst a cost-cutting campaign that shifted customer interactions with the airline online.
News and notes from around the internet:
A Voepass ATR 72-500, registered as PS-VPB, crashed near São Paulo, Brazil today while operating flight 2Z-2283 from Cascavel to São Paulo Guarulhos Airport. The aircraft was carrying 62 people on board, including 58 passengers and four crew members.
About six months ago, United Airlines implemented a new status match system aimed at automating the process of evaluating credentials for status matching. The system reviews the status a member already holds and typically approves matches instantly if the electronic card format appears correct.
News and notes from around the internet highlight various aspects of air travel etiquette and developments.
Bank of America across from Amazon’s HQ2 in Arlington, Virginia, was robbed on Monday morning. The getaway plan was unique: the suspect fled in a taxi, which took them to National Airport.
In a rare occurrence, American Airlines diverted a domestic flight to a foreign country, leading passengers to describe themselves as "illegal immigrants" in the Bahamas.
Sunday morning's United flight 1116 from Washington Dulles to San Francisco was canceled after passengers waited for approximately 17 hours. The cancellation resulted from a series of issues, including weather delays, mechanical problems, an aircraft swap, and crew members exceeding their maximum duty hours.
A Southwest Airlines employee at St. Louis airport has been charged with printing and stealing flight vouchers. For two months last year, the customer service agent reportedly generated vouchers in customer names and redeemed them for himself.
Fiji Airways, set to become a full oneworld member and adopt American Airlines' AAdvantage as its loyalty program, will launch non-stop service from Dallas – Fort Worth to Nadi, Fiji on December 10. The new route has been introduced with significant award availability for business class seats.
Even with Delta’s CrowdStrike meltdown in July, it still had better on-time arrivals performance for the month than American Airlines. The latter was significantly impacted by weather, but the results remain notable.
Qantas CEO Alan Joyce's early resignation has been followed by a reduction in his bonuses, which the airline's board claims is part of a broader effort to improve governance and stakeholder relations. Despite these measures, Joyce will still receive AU$14.3 million (US$9.4 million) after leaving the company, a figure that includes a significant cut from his long-term bonus and short-term incentives.
A Frontier Airlines passenger on July 19th’s flight 4401 from Las Vegas to San Francisco was accused of trafficking their own nine-year-old daughter. A flight attendant raised the concern and informed the captain, who arranged for law enforcement to meet the flight upon arrival.
When traveling, I often try to predict whether my flight will be delayed. This can provide a significant advantage in getting re-routed and avoiding long waits at the airport. Early awareness allows access to more flight choices and reduces competition for limited seats on fully booked planes.
For years, major U.S. airlines Delta, American, and United have called for protectionism against Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Etihad Airways. They argued that these Middle Eastern carriers were subsidized and offered such an attractive product that competition was untenable. Efforts were made with both the Obama and Trump administrations to abrogate treaty obligations, raise airfares, and reduce choices.
On August 4, Korean Air flight 197 from Seoul to Ulaanbaatar encountered severe turbulence, injuring 14 passengers and crew about one hour after departure from Incheon Airport. The incident occurred while flying near Tianjin Airport in China at an altitude of 34,100 feet.
Serena Williams faced a notable incident at the Peninsula Paris, where she was reportedly turned away due to the hotel's existing reservations. The Peninsula Paris addressed the situation on social media, explaining that their rooftop bar was fully booked and that the only unoccupied tables were part of their gourmet restaurant, L’Oiseau Blanc, which was also fully reserved.